Phonograph record changer



Jan. 2, 1951 A. w. L E ZLINE PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGER Original Filed Jan. 21,' 1941 5 Sheets-Shei i HE I L5 Z v INVENTOR. f/4RNOLD W LEL/NE F WM A TTUE/VE K5 Jan. 2, 1951 A. w. LELlNE v PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGER Original Filed Jan. 21, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

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ARA/0L0 W LELl/VE .V sk W Jan- 1951 A. w. LELINE 2,536,453

PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGER Original Filed Jan. 21, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 an; JIM

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Jan. 2, 1951 A. WI LELINE, ,PHONOGRAPH'RECORD CHANGER Original Filed Jan. 21, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I/Vllll/III:illrllllfll/llllllllf/lllrI /Ih ABA/01.0 W-LEL/NE A TTOE/VEYS Jan. 2, 1951 A. w. LELINE PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 21, 1941' 10 VIII mmmmmmmmm.

m Fl 5 -16 INVENTOR. ARA/0L0 WLEL /NE 7708MB Y6 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGER Arnold W. Leline, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Admiral Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Original application January 21, 1941, Serial No. 375,179. Divided and this application March 23, 1944, Serial No. 527,800

6 Claims. (Cl. 274-10) This invention relates to improvements in record changers, and more particularly to a type of record changer wherein the records of a group are played on one side only, being stacked above the turntable and dropped down onto the turntable one at a time.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, filled January 21, 1941, Serial No. 375,179, Patent No. 2,352,331, of June 27, 1944.

Although record changers of the type stated are well known, there have been many disadvantages incorporated in these devices which it is the purpose of the present invention to overcome. Generally, these prior changers have included the type where the record is supported at two or more opposite points adjacent the periphery and the bottom record released by providing blades which slide between the records. These changers are commonly known as the slicer type" changers, the name being derived from the slicing action of the blades. This type of machine has several disadvantages, among which may be enumerated: the mutilation of edges of the recorders by the changing mechanism; the inconvenience of removing played records from the turntable; and the more complicated mechanism for operating the changer mechanism. The other well known type comprises those where the record is supported on one edge by a platform and by a post or spindle through the center hole in the record. These machines have also been relatively complicated and in operation often cause the records to be mutilated at the center, thus making them ineffective for further automatic use.

P'Ihe present invention is concerned particularly with a'changer mechanism where the records are disposed in a substantially horizontal position;

' irregularities of the balls in ball bearings and the raceways caused vibrations from the bearings to be transmitted to the turntable which in turn was picked up and carried into the ampliher the same as any other vibrations.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an improved record changer which does not excessively wear, break or mutilate the records.

Another object of my invention is to provide a record changer that is simple and easy to load with unplayed records and unload the stack of played records.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism where, when an undesired record is being played, it may be rejected at any time to cause the next record to be played.

Another object of my invention is to provide a record changing mechanism wherein the time consumed in the record changing cycle is greatly reduced.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple rugged record changer and playing mechanism wherein the speed of the turntable is not affected by the presence of more than one record and wherein bearing noises in the turntable bearings are dampened.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple, rugged record changer mechanism which is not easily thrown out of adjustment and which is compact, having but a few working parts.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a record changer which may be quickly, easily and simply adjusted to play records of diiierent size.

Other objects of the invention including those of economies of manufacture and construction, and the invention itself, will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof, which description is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the record changer of the invention, some of the parts being broken away to show more clearly other parts below and certain otherwise hidden parts being indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2a is a similar view taken on the line 2a2a of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken below the main table or frame of the changer and showing in plan view the main cam and linkages for eifecting the record changing cycle, the position shown for the parts being during the record playing cycle;

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary side elevation taken on a plane from the line 311-311 of Fig. 3;

erations;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the position taken by the parts at another time during the record changing cycle, certain of the parts being omitted and others broken away for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 e another time during the record changing cycle, and with other parts omitted for the purpose of clarity; 7

Fig. -6 is a fragmentary bottom plan View of the cam and the starting dog and associated parts, showing the position taken by them after the dog is tripped;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary top planview of the main cam and cam starting. dog showing their relative position near the end of the record changing cycle;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical medial section through the record and turntable spindle and associated parts; i 1..

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the unplayed record'supporting spindle; r V

Fig. 9a is a detail view of acam indexing spring;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail plan showing the pickup arm track switch, an alternate position of the cam being shown. in dotted lines;

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line il-ll of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is avcrtical medial section through the record changing support;

Fig. 13 is a section taken on the line lfil3 of Fig. 12; .Y a

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section taken on the 'line I i-Moi Fig.13; 1

ported'cam member is provided for operating themechanism which effects the record changing op- This cam-member has a mutilated gear onits-peripherywhich meshes with a gear on the spindle for approximately one revolution of the cam member-During the one revolutionof the} swung to one side of the record turntable, a pin on 1 said cam engages a'linkage connected to the record changing mechanism, and a record is slid from under the bottom of the. stack and dropped -onto the turntable.-- Means is provided in the form'of'a-linkage controlledby the size of the.

records being playedto definitely determine the return position of the pickup arm so that it is properly'positioned for playingeither 10" or 12" records.-

V More specifically, the apparatus comprises a.

generally rectangular or square frame formed of pressed metal and having a downwardly extend- 4 The frame is provided with aligned bearings 1 in the upper and lower extremity (see Fig. 8) for holding the spindle i rotatably and against lateral movement. A thrust bearing 5 is provided and rests on top of the frame 6. surrounding the spindle The turntable has a hub. S which is telescoped over the end of the spindle 4, and

which hub rests on the thrust bearing 5. A cork 1 hole- 5 5 which is coaxial with the opening through the spindle; this hole is for receiving the semi- .cylindricalend l tf of the record spindle i1 and holdingthe same against rotation. The turntable is secured in place by a conical hex nut I!) which is threaded on the threaded portion of the spindle. The bearings I prevent lateral movement of the spindle while the bearing 5 carries the downward thrust.

The record holding spindle, as best. shownin Fig. 9, comprises a straight cylindrical bodyportion ll adapted to beslidably .disposedin the .bore of the turntable spindle i. The record, holding spindle remains stationary while thespindle 4 revolves; thisis effected by engagement...of.;the end is of the spindle in the complementaryhole 55, which hole is in the plate securedtotheibottom of the frame 6. The body of the record spindle is provided'with a shoulder [9 adapted to rest on the end 20 of the turntablespindle 4.

The record spindlei'i has a record guiding .por-

tion which extends upward above theturntable spindle a distance which is determined by the thickness of a stack ofrecords to beplayed, additional room being allowed forthe reciprocation of. the pickup arm, and graduallyv diminishesin diameter in a zone 21., which zone 'terminatesin a record supporting head or a shoulder 22. which is of a diameter slightly smaller thanthe. center hole in a record. Thespindle .i'l terminates ,in a generally cylindricalextension 23 which .extends in prolongation of thespindle body but is offset ing peripheral flange 2. The entire mechanism a is supported by'this frame and the frame itself may in turn be placed-in any suitable cabinet or console.

nalled inbearings carriediby a sub-frame 6. The

sub-frame; E5 eoinprisesa generally. square frame.

secured by screws at its upper end to the frame I.

The body is connected to the, head ness to the thickest commercial v10 or12". record. The side 24a of the neck as lies in the same plane with the periphery of the head 22 while the side 2% is a semicylindrical surfacein prolongation-oi the body 23, which body is of adiameter ightly less than thediarneter of a recordrcen- 'ter hole and of sufiicient length to hold the desired .to the right as best seen from Fig. 2 over against the neck Zea; after whichfit may' fall 'over' the head 22 and slide downtheshaft or body H, The

' zoneZl of reduced diameter'prevents the record from becoming wedged on the spindle due to tilt-' ing.

The turntable may be driven in. any suitable manner such as by a. geared or direct drive connection tothe spindle 4. Ijhave found, however, that one preferable form, both fromthe standpoint of smoothness of-drive and economy, is provided bye-motor 3 0,(Fig. 1) which has a drive .wheel. 3 kill. frictional: cp tactyw th tel .flibb rimmed wheel I32 which is in turn in frictional driving contact with the inside of the downwardly extending riih flange 33 on the turntable 3.

Driving of the record changing mechanism is accomplished by a spur gear 35 secured to or intogral with the spindle 4. This gear is adapted to mesh with a gear 36 on a main cam member 37. The cam member 3'! is rotatably supported on an axle 38 (Fig. 2) connected between the frame I and an arm Be on the lower sub-frame 6. Besides carrying the cams and parts for controlling the various movements in properly tuned relation, the cam has the gear teeth 35 disposed around most of its periphery. This gear is a mutilated gear; that is the teeth extend all around the cam except for one portion 39 where five 01' six of the teeth are omitted, there being sui-licient teeth omitted so that when this part of the cam member is adjacent the gear 35, the gear 35 may rotate without moving the cam. The position where the two gears are out of mesh is hereinafter referred to as the record playing position.

Means is provided for causing the cam member t be rotated to cause the teeth 36 of the cam gear to come in mesh with those of the spur gear 35, and the gear 35 to thus turn the cam substantially one complete revolution, during which the record changing cycle is accomplished. This means comprises a clutch which is released either manually or by the pickup arm and which engages with splines on the turntable spindle to start movement of the cam, and which is then later re-set before the completion of the revolution so that when the cam member comes again to the record playing position where the mutilated portion is adjacent the spur gear, the turntable may revolve without movement of the cam. More specifically, the clutch includes a dog 45, Figs. 6 and 7, comprising a generally flat elongated member having a spline engaging point 4! and which member is pivotally secured to the under side of the cam at 42. A spring 43, Fig. '7, engages a pin 4'! on the dog and normally urges it outward toward the periphery of the cam so that when released, the point ii extends out into the mutilated spaced portion 39, Fig. 6, where there are no teeth 36 on the cam member. In this position the dog is in position to be struck by one of the splines 44 on the hub of the turntable spindle. These splines are disposed immediately below the spur gear 35 and are somewhat longer than the teeth of the gear and four in number. This could well be accomplished with one such spline, but having four such splines causes the changing mechanism to start into operation in less than one-quarter revolution of the turntable, thus shortening the cycle for changing the record. One of the splines 44 on the rotating spindle hits the end 41 of the dog 45, Fig. 6, which movement is transmitted t the cam and causes the cam to be pushed around until the teeth of the spur gear 35 meshes with the teeth 36 on the cam.

The dog is normally held out of spline engaging position by a latch 45 which is pivotally supported on the upper cam member. The pin 41 on the dog extends upward through a window 48 in the cam member, and is engaged by the notched end 49 of the latch 46.

The latch member is of angular formation, as best shown in Figs. 3 to inclusive, being pivotally supported at 50 with the notched end 49 disposed over the window 48. The outer end of the latch is provided with an upstanding portion 5| 7 in which is adjustably disposed a screw 52 adapted to be contacted by a cam follower arm 53 rigid- 1y connected to the pickup arm 54, as best illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. It may be desirable for convenience in adjustment, to have the screw 52 threaded through the arm 53. In this instance the screw would contact the abutment 5|.

The pickup arm 54 may be a conventional type having a pickup in which is secured a record groove-engaging stylus and the usual electrical connections and apparatus for converting the' vibrations into audible frequencies. A support for the arm is provided and constitutes a hollow post 55, Fig. 17, disposed in an upright position on the frame I being provided with a flange 56 for engagement with the upper side of the frame I; and a threaded extension 51 extending through the frame to the underside where it is secured by a nut 53. A cylindrical sleeve 60 extends through the post and has secured to its upper end at 59 a coupling 5|. The coupling 6| rests on top of the post 55 and has a pair of upstanding parallel portions 82 through. which a hinge pin 63 extends for hingedly securing the pickup arm 54 to the coupling. The other end of the sleeve to extends below the bottom of the post 55 and has clamped on its end the cam follower arm 53. It will thus be seen that the pickup arm and cam follower arm which may be in alignment with each other, are free to move arouately above and below the frame or table I except when purposely held as hereinafter described The end of the cam follower arm 53 is formed with a cam follower pin 65 for engagement with a cam as hereinafter more fully described.

A shaft 56 extends through the sleeve 60 protruding beyond the upper and lower confines of the sleeve Gil. The upper end of the shaft is adapted for engagement with an adjustable abutment 5? carried on the underside of the pickup arm, and the lower end of the shaft has a rounded head 68 which is adapted to ride on a cam surface ll. The surface for sliding the shaft 56 in the sleeve 68 is concentric with the axis of the cam member and of varying height, since the shaft 66 in the sleeve 6!] rides on the cam, it is raised and lowered according to the elevation of the cam, which movement causes the pickup to also be raised and lowered in properly timed relation to the other movements of the mechanism. A helical spring 69 having one end abutting the bottom end of the sleeve 66 or arm 53 and the other end abutting the head 68 holds the head 68 in engagement with the cam. This spring, as will hereinafter appear (Fig. 3a), not only holds the shaft 66 in contact with the cam, but causes the head 68 to index or hold the cam in place during the record playing portion of the cycle.

As previously stated, the dog or pawl at is nor-- mally held out of the path of the splines 34. That is, when the cam member 3! is at rest, which position is best shown in 3, the pin ll on the dog is engaged in the notch 4-9 of the latch dB. The pickup arm with the stylus following the sound groove is drawn by the groove gradually toward the center of the record until near the ,end of the playing groove it enters the steeply pitched portion of the groove near the center of the record. This causes the arm to move quickly toward the center of the turntable and strike the screw which rotates the latch 45 around its pivot counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, and releases the pin i! on the dog from the notch 49. The spring 4% bearing against the pin swings the dog outwardly into the path of the splines which splines engage the end of the dog which has taken the position shown in Figs. 4. and 6,

rmsinberv that'wh' i,

'1? "moves only in a horizontal plane. The cam plate a scissa The, pin 41 rests against the side of the window iii-and pressure r m. the splin 4- sansnitted through the dog to the cam, causing the cam to bem ved until th t th 35.0 1 eam mesh w t the teeth of the spur gear 35 and driving relation etween the am a v espin eis ac o lish A spring #8; having one end connected to the latchand the other end toa pin on the cam, urges abutment being in the path and travelof the dog,

causes it to move. back into locking engagement withthe latch. At this point the cam has com.- pleted its cycle and; has rotated to a position where; the; gear. teeth no longer mesh and the cam then comes torest in the record playingposition; 7

When the pickup arm; reaches the end of the record groove and the cam. is started in motion, as just described, the first movement in the cycle isthe raising ofrthe pickup arm. This isthen followed-by swinging the pickup arm to one side of, the table, after which the new record is released onto the table andthen the pickup arm is swung back. to the table, inv alignment with the start oftherecordgroove; thenit is gently lowered'intothe groove.

Theraising of thetone arm at the start of the changing cycle is accomplished by movement of thefcamisurface "I? which extends around the cam member adjacent the gear teeth, the cam surface being concentric with the axis of the cam.

relative to the end or head 53. of the shaft 56 which rides: thereon. During the playing period the end or" the head is disposedon a low spotorzone onthe cam, indicatedat '15 (Fig. 3a),

7 this being the point where the pickup arm is out ofcontactwith the upper end of the shaft 96 and the. stylus resting in the record groove. From the point 35- the cam surface inclines upward, as inoicatediat it, to the upper and highest surface "ll', which surface is ofv even height.

around the cain untilit againslopes downward at it to the low zone It will thus be seen the cam is revolved, the head 63, which the It is in the low'zone l5, rides up the incline'd surface '55, causing the shaft 6 5 to move upward. Theshaft engages the tone armzabut merit E? and raises the tone arm up oif of the record.

At the start of the record changing movement, if a record has iustbeen played, the pickuparm.

V at or near the center of the turntable and the cam follower arm' has also moved across the unobstructed surface 32 of the cam to the position shown bythe dotted lines in Fig. 3. It should -s in mind that the cam follower arm 53;

the boundaries of the tracks.

Asv best shown in Fig; 3, the walls or ribs iii! andti of thetrackdiverge widely to: provide a larger area .orzone :82 ;-.in whic,,h the. arm. .53 and;

8. pin 65; may swing freely when the cam member is at rest, Ehus the, pickup arm may also swing i ee v. Whi e he r rd is in p ayed. he on y limitation being the inner and outer limits of-theribs 35, and 8|. The outer wall 8! may conveniently be the inner edge of the tone arm raising cam surface, 1-1.

The cam element having started to rotate at the endof the playing of a record, as previously described, the inner; rib 8,9, which slants toward the outer rib ill at 30a, strikesthe pin 65 and rotates cam follower arm 53 and the pickup arm, which has just been lifted, outward beyond the edge of the turntable. The cam follower awn-53 and pin 65 ride along the surface 855a until, it enters into the narrow track 88h adjacent the edge of the cam; While in this groove lateral movement of the arm is prevented. While'thus engaged the pickup arm is disposed beyond the edgeof the turntable andrcannot accidentally be swungover the turntable while the record changing is being accomplished. The narrow track Sub extendsaround the edge of the cam approxin'iatelvv 180. form two concentric tracks, one track adaptedto return the arm to the proper position for being lowered on 10" records, and the other for 12" records.

While the cam is rotating with the pickup arniunder control of the portion 8th of the cam track, a new record is being deposited on the table by a meanshereinafter to be described, the depositing operation being completed by'the time the pine? and arm 53 reachesthe end of thenarrow track portion 801);

At this point, as previously stated, the cam trackdivides into two tracks the and 83d which tracks are for. 12 and-10"'records respectively and: open into the open zone 82, The pin 85 is guided into track 860 or 39d by a switch 8's, the position of'which is controlled by theposition of the record supporting mechanism. That is, if 12" records are being played, the switch is in the position shown in Fig. 10, where the follower r pin passes into track 800. If 10"- records were'being played, the switch would take the dash line position where the follower would be guided into the track 85d. This is the position shown in Figs. 3' to 5 inclusive, The cam continuing its rotation the follower arm and pin being guided by switch .into the track 86d, the pick-up an listhus moverl'back over the turntable. Just before the pin. 65 leaves the track 853d the pickup arm is lowered by the shafttd'the raising head E8 travelingdown the incline, it of the cam, onto the-outside edge of the record groove. Immediately after thejpin 85 leaves the groove, 8500, the mutilated portion 39 of the'gear, 3i arrives opposite the gear 35 and, since there are no teeth provided with a threaded-end 83 whichextends through a .hole in .the frame and is securd in pl ace on thaframe by a hex nut 88. I A sleeve te extends through thepedestal and hassecured-tc-its upper end a flat plate 98. The lowependfof the sleeve exten ist el wths l wsten vfi h r es sstalats At this point the track divides to has rigidly secured thereto a cam plate 9|. The cam is a flat circular plate (Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive) and is eccentrically mounted on the sleeve 89. The cam plate is adapted to be held in either one of two positions by a spring member 93 which engages in either the opening 19 or 79. A cam track switch positioning member 94 is slidably supported by rivets o screws 95 on the underside of the frame, which rivets extend through slots 95 in the member 94. The membe 94 is provided with a cam engaging abutment 92, and is held against the cam by a helical spring 91 having one end secured to the table or frame and the other attached to the member 93. The free end of the switch positioning member extends above the cam membe 37 and is provided with a pair of downwardly extending spaced guides 98 which converge toward each othe in the direction of rotation of the cam member. The guides are placed in the path of travel of a pin 99 on the switch 83, which pin extends upwardly from the body of the switch 83, as best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 10. When the cam member 3'! is rotated the switch 83 is adapted to be moved into its proper position to select the correct track 890 o 89:1 for the follower arm pin 65. The pin 99 engages with one or the other of the guides 98 which swings and guides the same between the narrow opening as the pin leaves contact therewith to leave the switch in its proper position. The guide of course is positioned by its contact with the cam plate, the drawings illustrating the position taken for records.

The plate 90 supported on top of the sleeve 89 extends further to one side than the other, as shown in Figs. 2 and 12. When the cam 9! is so disposed that the longer radius is toward the turntable, the plate has its short side toward the turntable and the support (as will later appear) is thus adjusted for 12" records. In this position the guides 98 will set the switch 83 to select the proper track to return the pickup for playing 12" records. In case 10" records are loaded on the device, the long side of the platform is toward the turntable and the the short radius of the cam is used to position the track setting member 34. Since the cam plate is held indexed by the spring member 93, the platform is thus held in its proper position. The platform may be rotated manually so that the spring member 93 engages either one of theopenings 10 or 10, depending on which size of records that are going to be played.

A record supporting and ejecting mechanism is supported on top of the platform 93 and comprises a slide I00 (Figs. 15 and 16) slidably disposed on top of the platform 90. The body of the slide is of rectangular formation and has pairs of arms at opposite ends, each of which extends laterally at l0] and vertically at I92. The outer edges of the upwardly extending portion incline downwardly at H13, the purpos being to prevent the slide arms from slipping off of the edge of the record. Along the center line of the slide and at one end is formed a square opening Hi l, the edges normal to the longer axis having upstanding flanges H15, Figs. 12, 15 and 16. The flanges are disposed for engagement with the edge of a cam I06 which comprises a circular disc eccentrically carried on a shaft I 91 rotatably disposed in the sleev 89. Rotation of the cam reciprocates the slide on the platform. The cam [96 is eccentrically secured on the reduced end Id? of the shaft 10! which extends through an opening in the cam and is secured thereto by staking. welding or soldering. A pin I06 in the center of the cam rests on the plate 90, and when the cam is rotated, slides on the plate around the end of sleeve where it extends through the plate and is staked over. This lends additional support to the cam.

The body of the slide 199 is narrowe crosswise than the platform 99 and is held and guided on the platform by a head I98, which head not only supports the edge of the stack of records. but covers the record ejecting mechanism on top of the plate.

The head I98 comprises a substantially rectangular hollow body, Fig. 1, having downwardly extending lugs or bosses I I9, which engage the plate 99, Fig. 13, and extend between the arms I02 of the slide. The inne sides of the lugs form a guide for the slide 100. A downwardly extending flange I09 extends around the remainder of the head connecting in the mid-section to the bosses Ill] which extend below the flange a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the slide (see Fig. 2'). Th head is secured to the platform by screws l I l which extend through the bottom of the platform into threaded openings in said bosses.

The spring member 93 includes a bracket l30 secured to the bottom of the frame I and extending downwardly to provide a support l3l disposed in spaced parallel relation to the frame I. The arm 93 is secured to the support 13! by rivets I32 and the end of the spring terminates in a U-shaped end 93' for engagement in the openings in the cam. An arm [33 integral with the support extends below the spring arm 93 and is provided with an adjusting screw I34 threaded therein and having the end in engagement with the spring whereby tension on the spring may be adjusted.

It will thus be seen that the head holds and guides the slide on the platform while allowing the slide to be easily reciprocated by the cam I06. The vertical arms 102 of the slide extend up beside the edges of the head and slightly above the upper surface thereof, the extension. above the head being less than the thickness of a standard 10" record. The edge of the stack of records rests on the portion of the head which extends toward the turntable (Fig. 2), the arms I02 of the slide being in a position to engage the edge of the bottommost record and still miss the record juxtaposed above.

The slide is moved by the cam [05 to engage the edge of the bottom record, which edge rests on the head and has the center resting on the seat 22 of the record spindle H, to slide the record off of the seat against the portion 24a, whereupon the hole in the record is aligned with the head 22 and at which time the slide pushes the edge of the record off of the head and the record drops down around the recordspindle I! to the turntable.

All of this is accomplished during the time when the pickup arm is at one side of the turntable as described.

In bringing about this operation, the cam I06 is rotated by means of the shaft I01 which extends below the frame I and pedestal 85. The end of the shaft l 01 has a lever H4 secured thereto; this lever is connected by a link H5 to the main operating lever I l 6.

The lever H6 is pivotally connected at H! to the under side of the frame and extends under the frame I above the cam member 31 adjacent the cam axis (see Figs. 3 and 5). The cam memher 3'! has an upstanding pin H8 rigidly carried taken when the linkage is at the peak of its travel; The cam member continues on its circular orbit and the lever H6 is brought back to its "starting position by the spring I I9 which returns the slide back to position to engage the next record. v

Means is provided for steadying the stack of records and holding them, on the platform and comprises ahollow boss I on top of the head 7 whichpivotally carries a yoke IZI having an end I22 which rests on the uppermost record. The yoke extends through the boss and is provided with-a crank portion I23 to which is'secured the end of a spring I24, the other end; being connectedto a cross pin I25'disposed below theboss. .Means is; provided; for engaging theclutch whichWill-pause the changer mechanism to start functioning withoutrespect to the positionof the tone armor the record .groove which is use.- ful, not only to start the first record, but also toreject certainrecordsif desired. v .fThis means comprises a stiff. wire rod I25, Fig.3, slidably supported by the frame Lin lugs I- 2Ii-andhaving one end extending through the framexand connectedto a slidablebuttonand theother endbelow the frame adapted to contact the upstanding flange 5| on the latch 46. Move,- ment of the button is transmitted to the latch which is rotated causing the-,latch to be disengaged from the dog and starts the cam moving as previously described. I v Summarizing the operation, a stack of 10" or 12 records is placed on the head andspindle. If 10" records are beingplayed, the head is moved to thejposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2. If 12? records arebeing played, it is rotated 180. The stack of records rests-at its center on the spindle head '2.2 .and atfi ts edge-on the head I118. The lever I2 I is placed in contact with the upper edge of the stack where it is held in contact by the spring I24. The records when stacked onl-the changer are disposed in a horizontal position, Thedriving motor is energized by the switch I which may be any type. The connections from the source of current to themotor 30 are con ventional and Well known. Energization of the motor starts the turntable toturning. The slide [2 1 is then moved which causes the clutch to be released Thepickup arm is then raised and moved to one side of the turntable ;where it is held. The slide H19, the arms I02 of which are engagement with the'edge of the lowermost record of the stack, then moves inwardly carry;- ing with it the record which then drops to the turntable. v U V V I ,Thepickup arm then returns between the stack 'ot unplayed records and the record on the turntable; theposition of return being determined by the position of the headIBS, Itis then 10wered'into the record groove. The clutch at this point is reset and the. cam mechanism stops. The recordis thenplayed. At the end of the playing the cam follower arm 53 engages the stop 5 I-52 and-starts the recordchanging cycle anew.

1 and extremely rugged.

It will thusbeseen that :there. has been pro! vided a mechanism .well adaptedyto carryout the objects of the invention; thatthe -mecha: nism is simplified, economical in construction .Although I have shown two control buttons, I21 and I30, I contemplate including, these functions in a single rotatableknob which when rotated in one direction rejects the records and in the other turns-on themotor. a

Having thus described theinvention in .an;.em bodiment thereof, it willbe apparent'tothose versed in the art that. many minorchangesand deviations from the exact construction shown can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the'invention.

Iclaim: H g l. A mechanism of. the class described ,conr prising a frame, a turntable supporting spindle mi fi'fli i 34}? .bf/ fv ex e c 't means till the turntable supporting means for supporting records to be played in a horizontalpositioncomprising a stationary spindleextending into I the. turntable spindle for supporting 17l1'l Q01'- 15 at their center holes; a support and ejectcrmeca; anism for supporting the, edgespf the records and ejecting thesupporting records oneat a, time disposed to one side of the. turntable comprising a pedestal secured to. the tra nee sleeve rotate ably journalled on the pedestal and carrying the record support and ejector on top,. .a, shaft ex tending through the sleeve and carrying on its upper end, said cam being cooperatively connected to said ejector, cam neansro-tatably supported by said frame, an'upstandingpostpn said cam and a lever pivotally carried :bythe frame and operable by contact Withf$& id l30, a lever carried by said shaftand a link con f??? ing the pivoted lever to said shaft lever, said-posit adapted to rotate the pivoted lever and hence said cam on said shaft'to cause said ejectoif mechanism to eject records from the, Support and drop them singly onto the turntable. I

2. A support and ejector forautomatic retxpr players having a frame, a turntable, anda fixed center spindle for supporting records at their center holes comprising a, post carried by, the frame at the side of the turntable, a sleeve rotatably journalled in said post,. a base carried by said sleeve above saidpost, ar-record ejector Slide disposed on said base and formed with pairs of arms on opposite ends thereof anmoen ing disposed in th mid-portion ofsaid-sl1deat unequal distances from the ends, a shaft rotat ably disposed in said sleeve and provided. with a cam disposed above said base and in engage m-ent with the Walls of said slide in said opening, said shaft being movable to reciprocate said. slide, a record supporting platform securedto said base and formed to provide guide means for said slide to hold and guide said slide, indesiredprien-ted position on the base,,said platform being" pm; vided with record supporting portions disposed in unequal distances from the sleeve andsaid slide arms extending from .below said platform above said platform a distance less ,than the average thickness of a phonograph record and adapted for edge engagementtherewith. I .I

3. A support and. ejector for automaticrecdrd players having a frame, a .turntableand, a fixed center spindle for supporting records -at. their center holes comprisinga post ..car1 ied',. the frame at the side of the turntable, asl'ee ably journalled insaidpo'st' aibase I said sleeve above saidp'o'st, a record ejector-slide disposed on said base and formed with pairs of arms on opposite ends thereof, an opening disposed in the mid-portion of said slide at unequal distances from the ends, and means extending through said sleeve into said opening for reciprocating said slide, a record supporting member secured to said base and formed to provide guide means for said slide to hold and guide said slide in desired oriented position on the base, said platform being provided with record supporting portions disposed in unequal distances from the sleeve and said slide arms extending from below said platform above said platform a distance less than the average thickness of a phonograph record and adapted for edge engagement therewith.

4. A support and ejector for automatic record players having a frame, a turntable, and a fixed center spindle for supporting records at their center holes comprising a post carried by the frame at the side of the turntable, a sleeve rotatably journalled in said post, a base carried by said sleeve above said post, a record ejector slide disposed on said base and formed with pairs of arms on opposite ends thereof, an opening disposed in the mid-portion of said slide at unequal distances from the ends, and means extending through said sleeve into said opening for reciprocating said slide, a record supporting member secured to said base and formed to provide guide means for said slide to hold and guide said slide in desired oriented position on the base, said platform being provided with record supporting portions disposed in unequal distances from the sleeve and said slide arms extending from below said platform above said platform a distance less than the average thickness of a phonograph record and adapted for edge engagement therewith, and means extending above said platform and an arm carried thereby and movable to alternate positions above said record supporting positions and spring means for holding the arm in spring pressed relation in either of two alternate positions above said. record supporting seats on top of a stack of records to hold the records on said platform.

5. In a record changer phonograph of the type in which a plurality of records either of one diameter or another are stacked above the turntable and are individually fed therefrom to the turntable by releasing the bottom record of the stack, a record supporting and feeding apparatus comprising a centrally located spindle having a part for supporting the bottom record of the supported stack at its center, a rotatable member for supporting said record at its periphery, said rotatable supporting member being rotatable between a position for supporting records of a small diameter and a position for supporting records of a large diameter and having means for peripherally supporting small diameter records in said first position and large diameter records in said second position, and a record feeding member movably mounted relatively to said record supporting member having a part for engaging the periphery of the large diameter record when the said supporting member is in a position for supporting a large diameter record and having a part for engaging the periphery of a small diameter record when the said supporting member is in a position for supporting a small diameter record, and means for operating said record feeding member to shift the supported record from its supports and thereby release the same for movement to the turntable.

6. In a record changer phonograph of the type in which a plurality of records either of one diameter or another are stacked above the turntable and are individually fed therefrom to the turntable by releasing the bottom record of the stack, a record supporting and feeding apparatus comprising a centrally located spindle having a part for supporting the bottom record of the supported stack at its center, a rotatable member for supporting said record at its periphery, said rotatable supporting member being rotatable between a position for supporting records of a small diameter and a position for supporting records of a large diameter and having means for peripherally supporting small diameter records in said first position and large diameter records in said second position, and a record feeding member rotatable with but shiftably movable relative to said rotatable supporting member, said record feeding member having a part for engaging the periphery of the large diameter record when the said supporting member is in a position for supporting a large diameter record and having a part for engaging the periphery of a small diameter record when the said supporting member is in a position for supporting a small diameter record, and means for operating said record feeding member to shift the supported record from its supports and thereby release the same for movement to the turntable.

ARNOLD W. LELINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

